Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2005

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of osteoarthritis of multiple joints, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's left foot disorders, and a new VA examination is required.

The veteran's current right thumb condition, including arthritis and post-operative residuals, is determined to be related to a fracture of the right thumb incurred during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left hip, leg, and foot as secondary to his service-connected residuals of gunshot wound to the left thigh. The evidence did not show that the arthritis had its onset during active military service or was manifested within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and therefore, denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle, knee, and hip disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that any of these conditions warrant a rating higher than the current assigned disability ratings.

The veteran's hypertension and osteoarthritis of the hands were not shown to be related to his military service, leading to a denial of both claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a travel board hearing. The issues of rating his low back pain, right knee condition, and left knee condition are pending.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 10 percent each for degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia in both knees, effective from the date of the initial decision.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining unit records and credentials of the March 2003 examiner.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee, left ankle, and right hip disabilities has been denied. The highest schedular disability evaluation of 60 percent is currently in effect for the left leg conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found no evidence linking current disabilities to service, and the RO's decisions denying these claims are final.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and a neck condition, finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected left knee disorder, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, including osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence showing the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service and that it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial evaluation for his right knee disability, finding that the most recent claim to reopen was received on February 8, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's right shoulder disability, which may or may not be related to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated due to a service-connected low back disability. The VA found no evidence linking the current condition to military service.